Do you like trying new recipes, especially from different parts of the world? Then you must try these recipes and take your tastes buds on a trip to the Mediterranean.
Keep reading for some of the best Greek recipes to add to your meal rotation.
1. Baklava
Baklava is a pastry made out of paper-thin sheets of phyllo dough and a sweet mixture of nuts. You can use any variety of nuts that you like, but the most common mixture calls for a combination of walnuts and almonds.
After baking, you’ll then cover the pastry in a sweet syrup that is usually sugar or honey-based, or a combination of both. Each bite of this flaky dessert is packed with sweetness and will have you wanting more. This is one of the most famous dishes from Greece and you’ll know why it’s so popular after you’ve tried it.
2. Tzatziki
Tzatziki is a classic Greek dip that is made from yogurt, cucumber, and garlic. This dip is easy to make since it only requires a few ingredients and will quickly become a staple in your household.
One of the most traditional uses for this dip is as a sauce on pita bread for the gyro sandwich. The flavor combinations mix well with the delicate flavors of the lamb and you will want to eat it again and again.
3. Arni me Patates
Arni me Patates is a leg of lamb that has been roasted with potatoes and is flavored with garlic, oregano, and lemon. This meal is a classic dish served when visitors are expected over for dinner or for other special occasions.
The great thing about this dish is the flavor combinations are delicious and it is very easy to prepare. It would be the perfect meal for your next Easter celebration, as lamb is an important dish to serve in Greece. It also pairs well with this yogurt mint sauce.
4. Pastitsio
Pastitsio is a cheesy meat dish that is layered with rigatoni, cheese, and meat sauce. It is then covered in a creamy bechamel sauce and then baked to perfection. This dish is a bit more complicated than other Greek dishes, but it’s well worth the effort.
This dish gained in popularity during the 20th century when people started experimenting with cream sauces and added them into different types of Greek cuisine.
5. Horta Vrasta
This is a staple dish for the traditional Greek dinner table. It consists of boiled leafy greens which are often gathered outdoors in the wild. These greens usually consist of dandelion greens or spinach leaves.
The greens are boiled until tender and then drizzled with extra virgin olive oil, usually sourced locally, and then topped with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. This dish is not only delicious but it is also healthy for you.
6. Galaktoboureko
This custard-filled phyllo pastry is another famous dessert in Greece. The custard is made of milk and egg and then wrapped between layers of phyllo dough.
It is then baked until it is golden brown and soaked in an orange and lemon-flavored syrup. The flavors are light and sweet, making it the perfect after-dinner treat. It is best to serve this dessert on the same day it was made since the custard has a tendency to harden after refrigeration.
7. Moussaka
Traditional moussaka is a casserole that has been layered with a variety of vegetables and meat. Sometime during the 20th century, cream sauces became popular and people started adding a topping of thick and creamy bechamel sauce to the dish. This version of the dish has become one of the most famous dishes in Greek cuisine.
The most popular vegetable for moussaka is thin slices of eggplant between the layers of meat sauce. If done the traditional way the meal will take most of the day to prepare, but it’s worth all the work and the wait. Leftovers also freeze well so you can make a double batch and save the extras for another day.
Moussaka is a versatile dish that can also be made with a wide variety of vegetables and without meat for a vegetarian version.
8. Gyro
The gyro is a widely popular street food that is sold at stands all over Greece and in other parts of the world. The word gyro in Greece means to turn, the name of the sandwich is based on the method in which the meat is cooked.
When prepping the meat for the cone, thin slices of pork or lamb are seasoned with a mixture of spices such as salt, pepper, oregano, and paprika. Next, the entire mixture is sprinkled with white-wine vinegar and then layered with more meat, spices, and vinegar until all the meat has been seasoned and coated.
Then the meat is skewered and set on a bottom base plate with larger slices of meat draped around the skewer. No gaps between meat or skewer are left and no meat is left to hang off over the edges of the base.
With each layer, the meat is compressed so it is packed solid with the final piece being a thin layer of fat that will cook and drip down through the gyro keeping it moist during the process.
The cone is then placed on the rotisserie grill cooking the meat as it turns. The outside meat gets cooked and as it is sliced into the interior pieces of meat are then able to cook, giving it a nice flavor as it cooks low and slow.
If you are making this at home you can grill your seasoned meat on your bbq grill or on the stovetop. Then add your pieces of meat into a grilled pita wrap with tzatziki, onions, and tomatoes.
Learn More About Delicious Greek Recipes Today!
These are just some of the many wonderful Greek recipes that you should add to your weekly dinners and desserts. Get adventurous and let your taste buds try something new!
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